Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Va. Tech incubator collects international award
VT KnowledgeWorks was recognized in Paris as one of the world's top new incubators.
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Fans of VT KnowledgeWorks are applauding the Blacksburg organization's notable win at a business-incubation conference in Europe over the weekend.
VT KnowledgeWorks, which helps businesses start and grow, stood out among 50 technology incubators from 20 countries competing in an annual awards program held during the Science Alliance Conference on Best Practices in Science-Based Incubation, held in Paris.
KnowledgeWorks, which opened in 2004, was dubbed "Most Promising New Incubator."
Jim Flowers, who directs KnowledgeWorks and collected the award in person, credited the leaders of the approximately 50 member companies that use KnowledgeWorks services offered to businesses small and large.
"It's the success of the member companies that make awards like this happen," he said. "We like to think we enable them some, but we certainly don't create their success."
Bob Summers, chief executive officer of EnergyWare, a KnowledgeWorks client, offered praise for Flowers and Virginia Tech, whose foundation supports KnowledgeWorks financially.
"This international recognition is a testament to the long-term vision of Virginia Tech to invest in local high-tech growth," he said. "Jim has worked hard to get dozens of companies launched over the past years, and this award is an indication of his success."
VT KnowledgeWorks, with a two-person staff, offers incubation to science-based businesses from before launch through the early stages of operation and what Flowers calls acceleration services to more mature companies that seek to grow.
It operates as an arm of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, a fast-growing research park for high technology companies employing about 2,000 people in clusters of offices and laboratories beside the Tech campus.
